This is sort of a trick question, actually. Any dealer that has
weathered the storm of the last few years is likely a dealer worthy of
recognition. We've been through a lot with the housing market
rollercoaster, and last year's Dealers of the Year winners were stories
not only of survival, but also of companies that learned to thrive in
the new normal of window and door sales, distribution and installation.

If you have survived—and particularly if you have thrived—you should take a few moments and nominate yourself for the 2013 Dealers of the Year program.
There's no cost to enter, and the marketing upshot for winning a
national competition has been invaluable for the dealers that have won
in various categories throughout the years. Do you have a special
program for consistent, on-time installations? Do you have a marketing
approach that allows you to stand apart from the competitive crowd? Do
you leverage technology to educate consumers or professionals you
serve? Have you gone to great lengths to support the community you
serve? If so, you need to tell me your story. You could find yourself recognized in one of these key areas.

And
if you represent a manufacturer, what better way do you have to
recognize your top performers than passing along their success stories
to our Dealers of the Year panel? Now is your time to brag, and you
should feel free to nominate any dealer or distributor you feel is
worthy of recognition.

The deadline is approaching—you have just a
little more than a week to get your nominations in. They're due June
28th! In the meantime, take a peek at our poll this week and tell us
whether you think, collectively, dealers and distributors are still in
survival mode or whether they've moved beyond the challenges into a
space for expansion and growth. Vote, and feel free to post a comment to
share your thoughts.

What's the Rest of the Year Look Like to You?

About three quarters of our respondents expect an increase in sales for the second half of the year, including more than a third...read more